“I had better send and tell him that you are here,” said her ladyship.

“I need not trouble you so far.  I can be my own messenger.  Perhaps you will allow the fly to be sent round to the yard for half-an-hour.”  As she said this she was still passing down the steps.

But Lady Penwether knew that it behoved her to prevent this if it might be possible.  Of late she had had little or no conversation with her brother about Miss Trefoil, but she had heard much from her husband.  She would be justified, she thought, in saying or in doing almost anything which would save him from such an encounter.  “I really think,” she said, “that he had better be told that you are here,” and as she spoke she strove to put herself in the visitor’s way.  “You had better come in, Miss Trefoil, and he shall be informed at once.”

“By no means, Lady Penwether.  I would not for worlds give him or you so much trouble.  I see him and I will go to him.”  Then Lady Penwether absolutely put out her hand to detain her; but Arabella shook it off angrily and looked into the other woman’s face with fierce eyes.  “Allow me,” she said, “to conduct myself at this moment as I may think best.  I shall do so at any rate.”  Then she stalked on and Lady Penwether saw that any contest was hopeless.  Had she sent the servant on with all his speed, so as to gain three or four moments, her brother could hardly have fled through the trees in face of the enemy.

Lord Rufford, who was busy planning the prolongation of a ha-ha fence, saw nothing of all this; but, after a while he was aware that a woman was coming to him, and then gradually he saw who that woman was.  Arabella when she had found herself advancing closer went slowly enough.  She was sure of her prey now, and was wisely mindful that it might be well that she should husband her breath.  The nearer she drew to him the slower became her pace, and more majestic.  Her veil was well thrown back, and her head was raised in the air.  She knew these little tricks of deportment and could carry herself like a queen.  He had taken a moment or two to consider.  Should he fly?  It was possible.  He might vault over a railed fence in among the trees, at a spot not ten yards from her, and then it would be impossible that she should run him down.  He might have done it had not the men been there to see it.  As it was he left them in the other direction and came forward to meet her.  He tried to smile pleasantly as he spoke to her.  “So I see that you would not take my advice,” he said.

“Neither your advice nor your money, my lord.”

“Ah,—­I was so sorry about that!  But, indeed, indeed,—­the fault was not mine.”

“They were your figures that I saw upon the paper, and by your orders, no doubt, that the lawyer acted.  But I have not come to say much of that.  You meant I suppose to be gracious.”

“I meant to be—­good-natured.”

“I daresay.  You were willing enough to give away what you did not want.  But there must be more between us than any question of money.  Lord Rufford you have treated me most shamefully.”